Improvement in combined grave, coffin, and monument



L. M. SPEE-RS & A. CL ARK. Combined Graveyfioflifiand Monument. N0 |65'26]' PatentedJuly6,1875.

WITNESSES:

.ZW JJIaJINVENYTOM %j- BY N PETERS PHOTO L THOGRAPHER WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFIGE.

LELAND M. SPEERS AND ABRAHAM CLARK, OF NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED GRAVE, COFFIN, AND MONUMENT.

Spec'fication ftrmiug part of Letters Patent No. 165,267, dated July 6, 1875 May as, 1875.

To all whom t'tmay concern:

Be it known that we, LELAND M. Sauces and ABRAHAM CLARK, of Newberry, in the county of Newberry and State of South Oaro- 'lina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Grave, Coffin, and Monument, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of our improved device. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved receptacle for the dead which shall be so constructed as to be placed upon the surface of the ground, and serve at the same fully described.

A represents the'lower part of the device, in which is formed a cavity to receive the corpse. B s the upper part or cover, which has a groove formed around the outer part of its lower side, to receive and fit upon the edge of the lower part A. The upper or head part of the cover B is made thicker, and through it is formed an opening or hole, in which is secured a single, double, or triple glass plate, 0, by means of white lead or other water-proof ceapplication filed ment, so that the features of the dead can be viewed at any time without removing the cover B. This enables friends of the deceased who may have been absent at the time of the death and funeral to view the said deceased at any time they may wish. This construction also enables the body to be watched for any desired len gthof time, in cases where there may be doubt whether the body may be dead or in a trance state, until it revives or all doubt is removed.

The opening in the cover B is covered with a cover, D, which'is secured in place with straps E, of copper or other suitable metal, and a lock. The cover Dis so formed that no water can find its way in around its edges; but should any water get in it can get no farther than the glass plates 0. 1

We prefer to make the device of marble or other stone; but it may also be made of artificial stone, of glass, of metal, or any other suitable material.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent A combined grave, coffin, and monument, formed of the recessed lower part A, the grooved cover B, made thicker at its head end, and having an opening formed through it, in which is cemented a single, double, or triple glass plate, 0, and the cover D, all constructed substantially as herein shown and described.

LELAND M. SPEERS. ABRAHAM CLARK.

Witnesses:

7 JOHN S. FAIR, D. W. BARRE. 

